Draft-equalizer



(No Model.)

J. F. TAIT.

`DRAFT EQUA'LIZBR. No. 355,036. l vPatented Dec. 28, 1886. E I v UNrTnn STATES rtree.

PATENT DRAFT-EQUALIZER:

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,036, dated December 28, 1886.

Application tiled August 2, 1836. Serial No. 209,775. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, J AMns F. TAIT, of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Draft Apparatus for Vehicles, of which the following is asuflicientspecitication.

My invention is applicable to vehicles drawn by two or more horses or other animals; and it consists in a new arrangement of draft mechanism and novel attachments therefor to a vehicle as a substitute for the ordinary evener, and effecting a better utilization ofthe energy of the draft-horses.

My invention will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure lis a plan View of a portion of a vehicle with my apparatus attached. Fig.' 2 is a detail drawing showing the spring C; and Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2. D, Fig. l, is thev front axle of a vehicle pivoted on the king-bolt G. The'tongueE is connected to the axle in the usual manner. rlhe crossbar or stretcher A takes the place of the ordinary evener, and, like the evener, maintains the whiffletrees in their proper position in relation to the vehicle and to each other. It differs from the evener, however, in being capable of movement back and forth in the space between the hammer-strap IV and the tongue' E. The stretcher is prevented from moving inthe direction of its own length by the irons H H or other suitable means-as, for example, a pin inserted in it through a longitudinal slot in the hammer-strap I. p

At each end of the stretcher A are castings or forgings provided with hooks B K. To the kooks B B are attached the whifietrees L L. The rear hooks, K K, connect the stretcher A to the axleD through thesprings CC and hooks J J. It is evident that the pull of the horses will be transmitted directly to the axle D.

The construction ofthe springs C Gis plainly shown by Figs. 2 and 3. The spring C is inclosed in a casing made as shown in Figs. 2 and The casing is made in halves, 'and the halves are connected by lugs e f and bolts a o. The lugs are so shaped that the halves of the casing cannot be separated except by separating ,the bolted ends first, and the thrust of the draw-spring upon the upper half is taken by these lugs. The tension of the spring may v l be regulated by the nut N. It is to beunderstood that the form or kind of spring used to connect the hooks .I K .I K may be varied without departing from my invention.

The operation of my apparatus may be thus summarized: The function of the common eve'ner (namely, the distribution of the draftload between the horses) is in large measure.

performed by the front axle, D', the king-bolt G acting as the fulcrum for this purpose. The vibration of the tongue, which is usually excessive and harassing tothe animals when hauling heavy loads over rough roads, is by the action of the springs C C so checked that it does not fret or chafe the horses, and their Work is thus accomplished with less fatigue and liability to injury.

Ihe result above mentioned may be attained in asuftcicnt degree if,in addition tothe springs C G, a third spring, M, be placed in front of the stretcher A,.as shown in Fig. l in dotted lines. rlhe spring M takes a portion of the draft, but the springs C C must retain enough of they load to enable4 them to perform their function of checking the vibration of the tongue.

It is not essential that the springs C C be placed directly back of the point of connection of the whifflctrees, for they may be placed nearer the tongue.

I construct the ham mer-strap I to be att-ached to the tongue by a hook or hinge attachment at one end and by aremovable bolt at the other, and for said removable bolt I use the wagon- Wrench, using a strap, O, to keep the hammerstrap from vertical displacement.

I am aware that the ends of pivotal equal'- izers have been connected with each other by springs and ropes or chains, and whifiletrees have beenalso so connected with each other; but I am not aware that independent elastic connections have been heretofore made btween the whifiiotrees and the respective ends ofthe axle, as in my present invention.

I am also aware that draw-springs have been heretofore used both at the rear end of the pole or draw-bar and also behind the point of connection between the equalizer and the pole or draw-bar, so as to cushion the pullupon the tongue, and my present invention differs therefrom in that I have combined such a cushion with a stretcher, as hereinabove described.

I claim-d roo' l. In a draft mechanism, a stretcher havingl 3. The combination, with the stretcher A, at its longitudinal center a loose attachment constructed substantially as described, of the to the tongue or pole, and having near its ends removable hammer-strap I, the spring M, and separate and independent spring attachments the cheek-plates II H, all combined and ar- 15 5 to the respective ends of the frontaxle of the ranged substantially as shown and described.

vehicle, substantially as shown and described. Y 2. In a spring-draft mechanism, the spring JAMES F. TAIT. box or casing I?, the parts thereof being attached at one end in any convenient manner Vitnesses:

Io and having at the other end the lugs e f, conl?. H. T. MASON, structed substantially as shown and described. J. I. VERDER. 

